It seems that the city that never sleeps is finally awakening from its COVID induced slumber.
We look at three dynamic, but distinctly different New York bars, as they open up and welcome back their guests.
PDT (Please Don’t Tell)
How is the iconic East Village speakeasy making its come back? Well, of course, it’s taking it to the streets.
Making the hidden bar more accessible for its thirsty guests, PDT is unveiling a new tropically-inspired, outdoor cocktail bar, “PDT Tropicale,” to honour the neighbourhood’s Latin American and Caribbean heritage.
“PDT was one of the first modern speakeasies that helped raise the bar for mixology,” says Jeff Bell, long-time barman, 20-year industry veteran and new owner of PDT.
Creating a new “oasis in the street” PDT Tropicale will serve cocktails that are light, complex, tropical and refreshing, highlighting rum and tequila cocktails that are perfect for sipping al fresco during hot summer nights.
“Bars, like cities, are living organisms that need to continually evolve and improve with the times. We have thoroughly analyzed PDT itself and PDT beyond the four walls of the bar. We will remain firmly rooted in our core values, while our systems and operations will be updated to keep the guest experience fresh and on the cutting edge of cocktails and hospitality.”
The bar has brought out a new cocktail menu with brand new liquid creations that raise the bar’s ambitious mixological standards even higher, while reprising beloved fan favourites. They have
reimagined the Sour, Fizz, Mule, Collins, Old Fashioned, Negroni and other classic drinks and bring back beloved cocktails, like the Benton’s Old Fashioned.
For more information, go to pdtnyc.com
Jimmy
As the temperature rises there is no better way to watch New York open up than at a rooftop bar and if that rooftop is part stylish outdoor pool deck then you must be a Jimmy’s in SoHo.
With stunning, panoramic views of the city, Jimmy’s has offered new Yorker’s a sophisticated oasis to cool off while sipping cocktails and socialising for a decade.
“We’ve always hoped that Jimmy would become part of the fabric of downtown Manhattan and after 10 years, we hope that we’re coming close to that goal,” says co-owner and curator, David Rabin.
“What’s been so great about Jimmy is that each year, new people discover us. We’re not the most obvious spot as there really isn’t a lot of foot traffic on our block or in our area, but we are very proud that word seems to spread each year to new folks, while we work hard to retain our loyal regulars.”
Taking inspiration from Picasso’s Blue Period, The look and feel of Jimmy has been freshened up by Melissa Bowers, a stylist, interior designer, art consultant and founder of M.A. Bowers, Inc.
The cocktail list has also has a bit off a refresh under the direction of Johnny Swet.
Transforming classics into seasonally inspired cocktails, Swet is reviving Jimmy’s reputation as a drinks destination with original, out-of-the box (and some might even say whimsical) libations.
For more information, go to jimmysoho.com
Thyme Bar
Over in the Flatiron District, Thyme Bar takes us underground as they return with “The Thyme Bar Experience – Euphoria, which uses floriography in mixology.
Opening shortly before the pandemic hit, Thyme Bar is finding its feet again by exploring the visual and visceral sensations of drinks which head bartender, Jeremy Le Blanche, calls “a way of showing the language of cocktails through art with botanical elements.”
Flowers have long been seen as a way of communicating what can not be expressed in words and as the city opens up, Thyme Bar is expressing those representations by bringing nature back to drinks.
For Le Blanche, the new menu is all about creating the visual and sensory experiences that people missed during lockdown. “Just as chefs create art on a plate in gastronomy, I think we can do the same with cocktails,” explains Le Blanche.
“This menu is designed to be enjoyed as a full sensory experience, which New Yorkers could use right now. It’s the experience I have always wanted but had a hard time finding in the city,” Le Blanche continued.
The visual elements such as the terrarium that holds the Chatpata Fizz adds a woodland element to the urban environment. The sensational surprises such as Gynoecium Old Fashioned, utilizing the fat wash technique to infuse the peanut butter flavour into whiskey and serve with flavoured smoke & a macaron as garnish.
For more information, go to thymebarnyc.com
